Halloween is Fast Approaching...

I can't believe it's almost Halloween. Just when I think I've seen it all, I find some new and very creative ways to celebrate the day.

I found these sweet cookies at Better Homes and Gardens. I love the stylized spider web. It looks so pretty, yet it's easy to do. Ice the cookies with white icing, while it's still wet, swirl a line of black icing in a concentric circle. Then pull a toothpick through the icing from the inside out to the edge.

These pumpkins remind me of intricate paper cuttings or pierced pottery. You can learn how to make them at Martha Stewart.

I think these vintage postcard cookies are classic. The designs are available in wafer sheets that you place on top of icing. Details are available at Fancy Flours.

I found these on LoveObsessInspire. This is a free, downloadable design by Karly of Ocscar + Emma Design. I love the refined style and all of the flourishes. An elegant Halloween!

Celebrating Chocolate as Art

This past week, I was driving on route 78 with my daughter when it occurred to me that I had read an article about a Patisserie in Hellertown, Pennsylvania and had yet to visit it. So we pulled off the Hellertown exit and into the parking lot at Dolce Patisserie.

Inside the shop, there was a glass case filled with these most amazing little chocolates. They were perfectly formed, shiny, almost luminescent. It was hard to choose just a few. From front to back, we have dark chocolate, sugar cookie, pumpkin and creme brulee. We also sampled coconut, and we're sorry to say it didn't make it to be photographed, as we just had to eat them all! Pastry chef Alan Piotti was busy making some yummy looking apple tarts but he took the time to explain that the science of chocolate is how he makes such perfect pieces. These little treasures are so beautiful, they would make a great little gift. I picture them at each place setting over the holidays. Stop in Dolce Patisserie and see the masterpieces for yourself. I'm sure you will not leave empty handed!